Buncombe County public meetings in 2023

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners approved changes to COVID Recovery Funding and an interlocal agreement with the City of Asheville to expand emergency shelter beds. They also approved several budget amendments and board appointments.

• Approved COVID Recovery Funding changes: reduced COVID Contingency by $1,013,116 and Broadband by $1,500,000; increased Ferry Road by $2,264,716; established HIAC Shelter Support ($875,000) and Housing/Shelter ($3,800,000) (5-0)
• Approved Interlocal Agreement with City of Asheville to expand emergency shelter beds (5-0)
• Approved FY2023 Budget Carryforwards budget amendments (5-0)
• Approved Consent Agenda including pyrotechnic experts resolution, DWI Task Force Year IV, and conservation easement budget amendments (5-0)
• Reappointed Daniel Frayne to Health & Human Services Board (5-0)
• Reappointed Greg Zornes and Suzanne Booth to Home & Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee (5-0)
• Appointed DeWayne McAfee to African American Heritage Commission (5-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners denied a tax refund request from General Electric Healthcare Finance Service LLC and approved two rezoning requests. The Board also authorized recruitment incentives for Child Protective Services and various board appointments.

• Denied General Electric Healthcare Finance Service LLC’s $279,990 tax refund request (5-1)
• Approved rezoning of 565 Long Shoals Road from NS to CS (6-0)
• Approved rezoning of 111 Upper College Road from R-2 to PS (6-0)
• Approved $200 per pay period temporary allowance for CPS-Investigations staff and recruitment incentives up to $750 (6-0)
• Approved Consent Agenda including budget amendments for North Buncombe High School and Public Health (6-0)
• Appointed Sioux Oliva to Historic Resources Commission (6-0)
• Appointed David Thompson, Steven Valeika, and Linda Weldon to Health & Human Services Board (6-0)
• Appointed Lacy Hoyle to Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee (6-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners met in a special session and entered a closed session to discuss legal matters and personnel qualifications. No action was taken during the closed session, and the meeting was adjourned without further decisions.

• Approved motion to enter closed session (6-0)
• Approved motion to return to open session (6-0)
• Approved motion to adjourn meeting (6-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board held a special meeting to interview candidates for the Strategic Partnerships Grants Committee and the Audit Committee. No substantive decisions were made during the session.

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners approved the annual property tax settlement for fiscal year 2023 and adopted the order of collection for fiscal year 2024. Other key actions included updating fire prevention ordinances and transferring $300,000 in downpayment assistance loans to Mountain Housing Opportunities.

• Approved FY2023 Annual Property Tax Settlement and FY2024 Order of Collection (7-0)
• Adopted Open Space Bond Greenways funding evaluation criteria (7-0)
• Approved assignment of $300,000 in downpayment assistance notes to Mountain Housing Opportunities (7-0)
• Approved Ordinance Amending the Fire Prevention & Protection Ordinances (7-0)
• Approved budget amendment for Home and Community Care Block Grant (7-0)
• Appointed Martha Zeigler to the Audit Committee
• Appointed Ann Flynn to the Strategic Partnerships Grants Committee
• Appointed Colleen Burnet to the Community Child Protection Team/Child Fatality Prevention Team (7-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners met in a special session and entered a closed session to discuss personnel matters. No action was taken during the closed session, and the meeting was adjourned.

• Approved motion to enter closed session regarding personnel matters (7-0)
• Approved motion to return to open session (7-0)
• Approved motion to adjourn the meeting (7-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners approved a 50-50 cost-share with the City of Asheville for a reparations commission audit and reallocated $410,000 for Asheville High School gym improvements. Other actions included updating LEED building standards and approving several board appointments.

• Approved interlocal agreement for Asheville Community Reparations Commission Audit at a cost of $174,375 shared 50-50 with the City (7-0)
• Approved budget amendment to reallocate $410,000 for Asheville High varsity gym bleachers and lighting (7-0)
• Approved resolution updating Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Standards (7-0)
• Approved budget amendment for State Lottery Projects for BCS paving projects (7-0)
• Approved Consent Agenda including animal ordinance amendment and conservation easements budget realignment (7-0)
• Appointed Brien Griffen and Andy Bobowski to Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (7-0)
• Appointed Mark Diaz to Agricultural Advisory Board for Farmland Preservation (7-0)
• Appointed Taylor Cox to Home & Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee and Matt Kern to A-B Tech Board of Trustees (7-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners met for a special session and entered a closed session to discuss personnel matters. No actions were taken during the closed session. The meeting was adjourned without further decision.

• Approved motion to enter closed session regarding personnel matters (7-0)
• Approved motion to return to open session (7-0)
• Approved motion to adjourn (7-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board adopted the FY2024 Annual Funds and Capital Project Funds ordinances. They also approved several budget amendments for infrastructure and health programs, and updated the Solid Waste Management Ordinance. Multiple grants were approved following the recusal of commissioners with conflicts of interest.

• Adopted FY2024 Annual Funds Ordinance, fee schedules, and Compensation plan (7-0)
• Adopted Capital Project Funds Ordinance (7-0)
• Approved $450,000 grant to Asheville-Buncombe County Economic Development Coalition (6-0)
• Approved $45,000 grant to Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission (6-0)
• Approved $356,000 grant to Open Doors of Asheville, Inc. (6-0)
• Approved $129,788 grant to Asheville Area Arts Council (6-0)
• Approved $1,704,093 budget increase for Fleet and General Services Complex (7-0)
• Approved adoption of ExpressVote Voting System for Early Voting (7-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board approved a consent agenda including multiple school and facility contracts and budget amendments. They also voted to extend the Waste Pro residential solid waste franchise and reappointed members to several advisory boards.

• Approved Consent Agenda including school design contracts and budget amendments (7-0)
• Directed staff to extend Waste Pro residential solid waste franchise for two additional two-year terms (7-0)
• Reappointed Charles Hubbard to Agricultural Advisory Board for Farmland Preservation (7-0)
• Reappointed Elizabeth Ward and Mark Mickey to Strategic Partnerships Grants Committee (7-0)
• Reappointed Mark Taft and Linda McDaniel to Early Childhood Education & Development Fund Committee (7-0)
• Reappointed Allison Blake, Andy Nadeau, Robby Russell, Sabrina Rockoff, and Jael Skeffington to Economic Development Coalition (7-0)
• Awarded service firearm to retiring Deputy Sandra Edmonds (7-0)
• Tabled meeting schedule changes pending community data

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners approved a new comprehensive plan to guide county growth and conservation. They also approved a rezoning request for a property at Lake Eden and passed several transportation funding adjustments.

• Adopted the comprehensive plan (7-0)
• Approved Lake Eden rezoning request ZPH2023-00010 from R-2 to CR (7-0)
• Approved rate increase for ADA Complementary Paratransit Services to $3.20 per mile (7-0)
• Approved $172,915 in funding for ART Leicester Highway Transit Extension and Route 170 (7-0)
• Approved construction contract with RYSE Construction for 40 Coxe Ave HHS Renovation (7-0)
• Approved temporary moratorium on cryptocurrency mining (7-0)
• Appointed Suzy Rankin to the Agricultural Advisory Board for Farmland Preservation (7-0)
• Approved resolution for pyrotechnic experts for firework displays (7-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted 6-0 to impose a temporary moratorium on cryptocurrency mining operations to allow time to develop standards and mitigation methods. The board also unanimously adopted updated Open Space Bond Conservation Easement Criteria after deferring the vote in March. All consent agenda items, including budget amendments and a Juneteenth holiday leave policy change, were approved 6-0.

• Approved temporary moratorium on cryptocurrency mining (6-0)
• Adopted Open Space Bond Conservation Easement Criteria (6-0)
• Approved consent agenda including tax report, pyrotechnic resolution, Juneteenth leave policy, Weaverville collection agreement, JCPC funding plan, conservation easement budget amendment, and APS budget amendment (6-0)
• Appointed Destiny Burgess, Eric Robinson, Sylvia Clement, and Suzanne Avett to Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (6-0)
• Appointed Dee Williams to Mountain Community Capital Fund Operating Committee (6-0)
• Appointed Laina Stapleton and Summer Bartow to Library Board (6-0)
• Reappointed Joel Mazelis to County Board of Adjustment (6-0)
• Entered closed session for legal matters; no action taken

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners approved resolutions regarding the Deaverview Mountain property and the release of Enka Intermediate School property. They also passed a budget amendment for the closure of a transfer facility project and approved several board appointments.

• Approved resolution for Deaverview Mountain property (7-0)
• Approved resolution for release of Enka Intermediate School property (7-0)
• Approved budget amendment for Closure of Transfer Facility Project (7-0)
• Approved Consent Agenda including pyrotechnic experts, Blue Horizons RFP, and parking services budget increase (7-0)
• Reappointed Hunter Goosman to Mountain Community Capital Fund Operating Committee (7-0)
• Reappointed Andy Ball to County Board of Adjustment (6-1)

Board of Commissioners

The Board scheduled a public hearing for May 2, 2023, to consider a one-year moratorium on cryptocurrency mining. Other key actions included approving a $185,000 audit contract and a design contract for restrooms at Enka Sports Park.

• Set public hearing for May 2, 2023, regarding cryptocurrency mining moratorium (5-0)
• Approved FY2023 audit contract with Mauldin & Jenkins for $185,000 (5-0)
• Approved $70,337 design contract with Domokur Architects for Enka Sports Park restrooms (5-0)
• Approved lease with Buncombe County Board of Education for Reynolds Volunteer Fire Department (5-0)
• Approved resolution for Pyrotecnico to conduct fireworks displays on June 10 and 17, 2023 (5-0)
• Approved budget amendments for multiple project closures across several funds (5-0)
• Appointed Meghan Rogers to the Downtown Commission (5-0)
• Directed staff to draft a letter to NC Department of Health & Human Services regarding the NC Child and Family Specialty Plan (5-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board approved a 20-year financial partnership for McCormick Field renovations and established temporary crisis pay for 911 telecommunicators. Several grant-funded budget amendments were approved, while voting on Open Space Bond conservation criteria was deferred.

• Approved $250,000 annual funding for 20 years for McCormick Field renovations (6-1)
• Approved temporary crisis pay stipends for 911 telecommunicators (7-0)
• Approved new regular full-time Homelessness Response position (7-0)
• Approved resolution requesting a rail quiet zone at Crossing 951131D (7-0)
• Approved $400,000 CDBG-NR grant for low-to-moderate income home repairs (7-0)
• Approved $15,000 VW Settlement grant for charging stations at Leicester Crossing (7-0)
• Approved $48,132.25 library fine write-off (7-0)
• Tabled Open Space Bond Conservation Criteria adoption

Board of Commissioners

The Board approved the purchase of 111 Victoria Road for A-B Tech and authorized the receipt of approximately $12.9M in opioid settlement funds. Other key actions included approving a track replacement for Asheville High School and rezoning a parcel on Mount Carmel Place. The Board also authorized additional research capacity for the Community Reparations Commission.

• Approved $5M purchase of 111 Victoria Road for A-B Tech (6-0)
• Approved $12,949,951.47 in additional opioid settlement funds (6-0)
• Approved $1,239,058 contract with AstroTurf Corp for Asheville High School track (6-0)
• Approved rezoning of 31 Mount Carmel Place from R-1 to R-3 (6-0)
• Approved financing for Asheville Regional Airport improvements up to $175M (6-0)
• Authorized contract employee for Community Reparations Commission research (6-0)
• Approved $2M NCEM grant for stream restoration and stabilization (6-0)
• Approved $180,000 budget amendment for Affordable Housing Feasibility Study Phase II (6-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners held a special meeting to conduct interviews for the General Obligation Bond Community Oversight Committee and the Land of Sky Regional Council. No substantive decisions were made during the session.

Board of Commissioners

The Board approved a contract with Eagle Solar and Light for solar installations on five public facilities. They also authorized a $1.1M grant from the MacArthur Foundation to reduce jail populations and appointed several members to county boards.

• Approved $1,273,414.28 contract with Eagle Solar and Light for solar on public facilities (7-0)
• Approved $1.1M MacArthur Foundation grant for Safety & Justice Challenge (7-0)
• Approved $1,803,066 budget amendment to transfer funds to Capital Projects fund (7-0)
• Approved resolution for pyrotechnic experts Star S Productions and Pyrotecnico (7-0)
• Appointed Deborah Oldt to Home & Community Care Block Grant Advisory Committee (7-0)
• Appointed Jonathan Hunter to Board of Equalization & Review (7-0)
• Appointed Patricia Rosenburg, Joel Henderson, and Stephanie Lee to General Obligation Bond Community Oversight Committee (7-0)
• Appointed Justin Tyler to Land of Sky Regional Council (7-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners held a special meeting to interview candidates for the Independent Review Committee regarding a water outage. No substantive actions or decisions were taken during the session.

• Conducted candidate interviews for Independent Review Committee (Water Outage): no action taken

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners authorized the development of a scope of work for an official audit to cease harm impacting the African American community. The Board also moved $2 million into a Special Projects Fund to track long-term community reparations efforts.

• Approved audit scope development for African American community reparations (6-0)
• Approved $2M transfer to Special Projects Fund for community reparations (6-0)
• Approved $138,900 pre-construction contract with Vannoy Construction for schools (6-0)
• Approved 2023 Legislative Agenda (6-0)
• Approved resolution supporting local control of school calendars (6-0)
• Approved $89,994 grant for COVID support in County Detention Facility (6-0)
• Approved $110,509 budget amendment for START Program funding (6-0)
• Approved reimbursement resolutions for capital projects up to $68.6M (6-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners held a special meeting to appoint an interim finance officer following the resignation of the previous director. The appointment is effective February 4, 2023.

• Approved resolution appointing Mason V. Scott as Interim Finance Director (6-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board conducted interviews for candidates for the Community Reparations Commission, Strategic Partnership Grants Committee, and Woodfin Water District Board of Trustees. No substantive decisions were made during the meeting.

Board of Commissioners

The Board approved architectural services for a new 911 Backup Center and granted a convalescent ambulance franchise to MAGNET. Additionally, the Board established budgets for 2022 GO Bonds for affordable housing and open space, including two new project manager positions.

• Approved $160,791 architectural contract with Stewart-Cooper-Newell Architects for Backup 911 Dispatch Center (7-0)
• Granted convalescent ambulance franchise to Mountain Area Ground Non-Emergency Transportation, LLC (MAGNET) (7-0)
• Approved budget amendment to establish 2022 GO Bonds budget and two full-time project manager positions (7-0)
• Approved $76,023 contract amendment for New Fleet Services Complex landfill gas controls (7-0)
• Approved resolution supporting Friends of Fonta Flora State Trail grant application (7-0)
• Approved $25,000 Duke Energy Grant for Urban Search and Rescue PPE (7-0)
• Approved $39,924 budget reallocation for Collaborative Mobile MAT Team vehicle (7-0)
• Approved $55,751 budget increase for High-Top Road Repair project (7-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners met for a special session and entered a closed session to discuss personnel matters. No substantive actions were taken during the meeting.

• Approved motion to enter closed session regarding personnel matters (7-0)
• Approved motion to return to open session (7-0)
• Approved motion to adjourn the meeting (7-0)

Board of Commissioners

The Board of Commissioners held a special meeting to interview candidates for the Historic Resources Commission. No substantive actions or decisions were taken during the session.

Board of Commissioners

The Board approved a budget amendment for a $7.9M emergency rental assistance grant and a monthly residential waste fee increase. Other actions included approving a non-warranty deed and several board appointments.

• Approved $7.9M NC PRO Emergency Rental Assistance 2 (ERA2) Grant and extension of three grant positions (7-0)
• Approved Waste Pro basic service collection fee increase of $0.39 per home, per month (6-1)
• Approved execution of non-warranty deed for Pete Gasperson (7-0)
• Approved Consent Agenda including JAG awards for Sheriff's Office and service firearm award to Paul O'Connor (7-0)
• Appointed Blythe McCoy, Elizabeth Kraft, Tyshaun Johnson, and Brandon Priester to Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (7-0)
• Appointed Lewis Welch to Agricultural Advisory Board for Farmland Preservation (7-0)
• Appointed Tyshaun Johnson to African American Heritage Commission (7-0)
• Reappointed Joseph Hackett to Justice Resource Advisory Council (7-0)